High-quality Research Support (HQRS) Program

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

TOPIC: YOUTH MIGRATION

TITLE: YOUTH MIGRATION IN GAROWE: CAUSES AND

EFFECTS
RESEARCH CONTEXT

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, according to 2013 world youth report,

international migration has become a reality that impact in nearly all corners of the
globe, often making distinctions between countries of origin, transit and destination
obsolete (Nations, 2013).Number of international migrants worldwide has continued to
grow rapidly over the past fifteen years reaching 244 million in 2015, up from 222 million
in 2010, 191 million in 2005 and 173 million in 2000. Between 2000 and 2005, the
international migrant stock grew by an average of 2 per cent per year. During the period
2005-2010, the annual growth rate accelerated, reaching 3 per cent (department, 2013)
Conflict, poverty, inequality and lack of decent jobs are among the reasons that compel
people to leave their homes in search of better futures for themselves and their families.
(1Affairs, 2015) Modern transportation has made it easier, cheaper and faster for people
to move. Although solid proof are not yet available, it is believed that There are powerful
networks of different human traffickers in different regions of Somalia who are involved
in moving and exploiting migrants for profit making purposes. According to Nimco Ilhan Ali
Research going on Tahriib in 2016; human smugglers nearly always facilitate the journey.
Smugglers operating in Somaliland and Puntland have been adept in finding a way to
make tahriib attractive and accessible to young people. In particular, smugglers operate
a leave now–pay later scheme , removing a key obstacle and significantly lowering the initial
costs (Ali, 2016) Information development and communication technology also play a key
role in facilitation of youth migration. Social media, globalization and cheap social
networks also facilitate youth migrations.

1
Is defined the reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and needs.
Then when the environment is degraded, the youth lived this area will move to a better environment
2
The migration effects and consequences generally in Africa is a global phenomenon
today and it became a business enterprise for human traffickers who take advantage of
all migrants but also target youth to make money. The East Africa region is one of the
areas where migration is caused by high unemployment, poor economic situation, civil
conflict, Social media propaganda, education , marriage, escape from poverty, violence,
conflict environmental degradation 1 and climate change2, which continue to force people
to flee their homes and head for Europe, North America, Canada and Australia.

The migrants use different location to reach their destination while many of them die on
the way (affairs, 2016). it is being reported that; every day an average of 14 migrants,
the vast majority from countries in sub-Saharan Africa, die crossing the Mediterranean
(Welham.Ross, 2017).

Youth unemployment is perceived as a major issue which causes youth to migrate from
Somalia. (UNDP, 2012) . Approximately 67 per cent of Somali youth, both genders, are
unemployed, and 74 per cent of female youth in Somalia are without a job employers;
Estimations made in 2016 of youth unemployment to be closer to 80 per cent or 90 per
cent. However Puntland is characterized by a growing youth population and nearly 70
per cent of the population are under 30. It is also believed that political exclusion is of
the factors of youth migration, youth are majority of the population in Puntland and
generally in Somalia and they feel currently excluded from the decision making process
and are marginalized in government planning. This results in youth discouragement and
lack of hope to stay at their country

Due to prolonged rife armed conflicts, endless civil war and lack of opportunities for the
youth, Somali youth crave to travel to outside the country and to destination as far as
Europe, America and western rich countries to get better life and economic
opportunities. Brain drain, emigration of trained and talented individuals from the
country to the Western Countries results in depletions of skills, experiences and
resources which causes economic recession, lack of professional human resource and
poor social development in the country.
However, their journey begins with hope but often ends with misery as everyone does
not make it to the other side of the Mediterranean Sea. During the migration travel youth
taking high risks and face death, life time prison, which often causes trauma and
psychological disabilities. On the other hand, youth migration has negative effects to
the families that youth migrants left behind. Migration requires spending a large amount
of money, which forces parents to sell their houses at very low prices to pay ransom to
smugglers demanding high prices.

Garowe is among the major cities in Puntland Somalia. It is the capital of puntland state
of Somalia with an estimated population of about 50,000 (Ministry of Planning and
statistics, 2003). Like other Somali cities, illegal migration in Garowe is prevalent and
socially accepted.
It is believed that due to the unfavorable living conditions in Garowe and generally in
Somalia, many young people put their lives at risk in search of better living conditions
since they are falsely persuaded that they will find a better life and huge amounts of
money in Europe and the West.

Consequently, this paper explores causes and effect of migration of youth between the
ages 15 and 35 years, who are living in Garowe. The research paper will try to shed
light on youth migration and root causes and effects. It will investigate how the social
media and communication technology affects and influences youth migration. In
conclusion, the paper will propose relevant options and recommendations on stopping
migration. It will Identify alternative means and opportunities of life in the country for
youth in order to eliminate migration and its risks.

Research Overall Aim

 To promote sustainable development in Somalia

RESEARCH QUESTION:
How can youth migration be stopped through community awareness raising
Specific Objectives
 To identify major causes and effects of youth migration in Garowe

 To explore possible options of preventing youth migration from Garowe

 To stop youth migration to ensure availability of sufficient human resource for

development in Puntland
References

affairs, U. d. (2016). Youth Migration. United Nations inter- agency Network.

Affairs, d. o. (2015). International migration report. New york:

UNDP. (2012). Somalia Human Development Report. m: UNDP.

Welham.Ross, J. (2017). the migrant slave trade is booming in Libya. the Guardian newspaper , 1.

Puntland, M. o. (2003). Puntland fact and figures. Garowe: MOPIC